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When most of us think of the word stewardship we usually think about money. But the word steward simply means manager, as opposed to owner. Remember: we don't actually own anything. God owns it all. God entrusts everything we have to us for us to manage for His purposes. He expects us manage everything well and use it to accomplish the vision He has for us. That vision, and the people God has entrusted to us to accomplish it with, is our greatest stewardship responsibility. God is counting on us to be good stewards. It doesn’t matter how big or small the vision is; our responsibility is the same. Preserving and protecting the vision is a stewardship decision!

If God has spoken to us and revealed a specific direction for our lives and organizations, it is a scary but powerful thing! All of a sudden, it’s not about us anymore. We have a higher calling and purpose. We have a higher level of determination. We are more resolved to see it through. We are unwilling to waver. We’re unlikely to quit when it gets difficult. It will get difficult! If God has given us a vision, and we quit on it, we’re being disobedient to God. The word sin means to miss the mark. That's why quitting on God's vision is a sin. If we allow someone to run us off, or allow them to hijack the vision, we’ve allowed someone else to make us disobedient to God.

When you’re trying to lead your organization through change, there will be times when the pain is so difficult you want to give up. I plead with you not to do it. Don’t ever leave just because it’s hard. Don't retreat with your tail between your legs. Don't quit after a big loss. Don't quit just because someone else thinks you should.

When should you quit? When there's absolutely no reason to. If you have the choice, you leave when and only when things are on a high note. Leave when everything's clicking. Leave when there's no drama—no one expects you to leave, when no one wants you to leave. Stay the course until things are going well, and only then think about what’s next. Once you’ve begun a change, it is your responsibility to see it through to the next high note.

Vision is a sacred stewardship. Steward it well. Finish what He started in You, so You can hear Him say: "Well done thou good and faithful servant."